‘Every minor detail – execute them’: The striker’s path from gurney to scoring with Athletic Bilbao
The first time the Spanish forward featured in English soil, an 18-year-old playing for Athletic Bilbao B against Borussia Mönchengladbach Under-23s at the English ground in fall 2015, he scored. On his next visit he took the field in the country, against Sunderland weeks after, he scored. The third time, against Manchester City six weeks after that, sure enough, he did it once more. Upon his comeback to the northwest to take on Manchester United at Leigh’s ground in the 2017 season, he found the back of the net. An excellent finish, as well. “Actually,” he remarks, “it ranks among my finest I’ve netted.” So Athletic did their duty: he was replaced.
“I got well angry,” the attacker admits, then chuckling. “There must be a video somewhere. We traveled to face United and I was pretty good. I wasn’t allowed to feature the second half: I hadn’t yet signed agreement, I kept finding the net, speculation was rife, you know how it is. I don’t know about Newcastle being interested, but I recall seeing about Manchester United, standard transfer gossip. I’m not certain if it was accurate, but had they contacted me, my desire was to remain at Bilbao. I feel lucky to be here.”
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At the training ground, the city, the morning session is set to begin; after it, the brief trip to Loiu and a further journey to England, this time to take on the Magpies in the European elite competition on the upcoming match. Mentioning that phrase lights him up. It has become a tough year for Athletic, due in part to the requirements of being here. Beaten in added time in the weekend clash, they have secured just a single victory of their last eight matches and been defeated by Arsenal and Dortmund in European competition. But, consider the broader view, the memorable evenings and those that lie ahead, and he feels a calm gratitude within him.
In the three years since he had returned to the club, the striker has been a Europa League semi-finalist, denied at the last hurdle a final at home by United, and has boarded a decades-old barge through the waterway accompanied by countless supporters after securing the Spanish cup, the first title in 40 years. Now he is the top goal-getter in the Champions League, where they are distinctive and debuting in a decade. “I never imagined this,” he admits.
He considered it hard enough just to earn a spot and that proved true. The son of the ex-La Real star Xabi Guruzeta and a regular attendee at the opposition side, Guruzeta is a product of Antiguoko, the Donostiarra team that developed Mikel Arteta, the legendary midfielder and the Bournemouth manager. His move to Athletic came at 17 but after making his senior debut in the 2018 season, he experienced a serious knee problem, dropped, a demotion and a return before he could truly get a chance, making his comeback to enjoy the highlights of the club’s history.
“You go into the academy not expecting to reach the senior squad but with every stage you progress through you’re remaining and you can notice the proximity. You arrive and then … you’re sent away.” He had limited game time in a handful of matches between his bow and early 2019. “Then I was sent to the filial [Bilbao Athletic, the Under-23s]. Several appearances at that level and I tear my cruciate.
“It was a huge blow but In retrospect as a beneficial experience because it made me change the way I saw things. Recovering from a long-term injury is difficult, but it aids growth. You cultivate routines you didn’t have. Previously I was casual, but I would go to training and then go home, like when you’re a kid. At Lezama, all resources are available, so do everything. Work, precaution. Get in the gym. With hip imbalance, work on that. Assuming ankle mobility is good, improve it more. Every small aspect: perform them.
“At the top level you’re going to crash into players who have experienced contact countless occasions. They’re so strong. Seeing previous pictures: my physique was slight. Injuries are inevitable. Look at pictures of me now and the improvement is clear. Injury made me see that. Sessions end, but further effort is needed. Everyone else is ready, really ready; you have to be too.”
Game time is essential. Guruzeta departed emotionally in that year, aged 23, moving to a lower level. At Sabadell in the 20-21 campaign, he got three strikes in 40 games. At Amorebieta in the latter part of the season, the goals started to flow. “It’s a common path: temporary moves, ended deals. With a turnaround, effort, faith, and when eventually the requirement appears in your position, a return could happen. Readiness is vital. When they decided to call again, an aspiration fulfilled. To then win the Copa del Rey, compete continentally, and reach the Champions League … pfff.”
Understandably he remarks this is to be enjoyed. Especially after the previous season which, sometimes, was focused on persistence. From top scorer with a high tally, he managed seven in {15 games more|additional matches|
